Thanks for this series.

Great article, Floyd. And I agree with you about some of the humor in recent cartoons. I have had enough of fart jokes to last a lifetime. I don't deny that kids laugh at them, but it sucks that animation writers believe they have to write such junk in order to entertain kids. The Looney Tunes didn't have crude humor involving bodily functions - it didn't need them to get a laugh. But nowadays such humor is in just about every toon made. Sadly, even Disney feels it has to throw in such crud to get kids' attention; I'll never forget the shock and outrage I felt when I saw a "Lady and the Tramp" DVD ad on TV and in it a bulldog is shown belching. Needless to say, such a thing didn't occur in the actual film, but some moron at Disney apparently thought the belch was necessary to interest kids and so pasted it in. I blame Nickelodeon for this trend - its shows are full of such crap. Which is one reason I'm so happy that the Disney Channel has been eating Nick's lunch of late.

Off topic, but I assume it's of interest.

Pixar just announced the next film in their pipeline, called "Up".  Sounds pretty weird from the synopsis: a 70-year-old man who teams with a wilderness ranger to fight beasts and villains.  June 12, 2009, exactly two years from today.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117966684.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

I was 7 in 1977. Besides "Star Wars" ... "The Rescuers" was one of my favorites as a child. Along with Petes Dragon (Which I still think has some of the best music and songs of any Disney film ever).

The idea for "Scruffy" seemed pretty fascinating. It would probably fly today along with the likes of Valliant, Chicken Little, etc....

Dinosaur is also truly incredible and one of my favorites ... I don't know why it's downplayed simply because it wasn't PIXAR.... it’s a remarkable work of art... and with heart as well. Just because it didn't make a lot of money it’s kind of lost in the archives.

That is an amazing article, Floyd. Thank you!

Floyd, you're a treasure, and the fact that you honor these friends and coworkers who have helped build animation's legacy - it's just so noble and good.

Thank you for writing your pieces.  They are always welcomed, and always special.

Thank you so much again. And you're right though, old-fashioned or not, Disney WAS better before.  I was born the year the Rescuers was released. I'm sure I still watched it, I even had the 45 record with storybook.  I still think its one of the best Disney has done. The Rescuers had a great little heroine (Penny) and I still wish I had friends like Bernard and Bianca. The RAS song was the BEST and still gets stuck in my head from time to time.

Please Floyd, tell someone that us die-hards that spend money like nothing on Disney products.. we don't like this new junk. Go back to the beauty and wonder of Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Bambi, Dumbo, The Rescuers, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Jungle Book, and The Lion King.  .. what do these all have in common? Great soundtracks, and beautiful animation done BY HAND.

xoxoxox Thank you SO MUCH for these articles.  You're very blessed to work for such a great company, have such a great job, and to know such wonderful people.  I'm so jealous I don't know YOU! :D